Beating four other contenders, Dubai has won the right to host the World Expo 2020 trade convention. In a bidding held Wednesday, Dubai, a small gulf city in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), bested Russia, Brazil and Turkey as the top organizer of the 150-year old event.
Fireworks and celebration
Being the first city in the Middle East to host the 2020 World Expo, Dubai broke out into a celebration and dazzling fireworks were lit atop the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world standing at a height of 2,717 feet. Amid the celebration, crowds cheered at the foot of the tower and also in shopping malls. Other areas in the city also put up a pyrotechnic display to mark Dubai’s success. On Thursday, school was called off for a whole day holiday to celebrate the victory.
Dubai residents expressed various reactions to the recent feat that their city has achieved. Depika, an Indian student born in Dubai said he is proud to live in one of the most modern cities of the future. He said he saw how Dubai grew and developed into a beautiful and modern urban area. Another Dubai resident, Yacoub al-Shamsi said the upcoming hosting of Dubai in the 2020 World Expo event makes him prouder to be an Emirati. Showing full support to the city, Yacoub’s wife wore a U.A.E. flag scarf with her black abaya.
Competing bids
Other hosting bids came from the cities of Izmir in Turkey, Yekaterinburg in Russia and Sao Paulo in Brazil. Delegates from 168 nation members of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris cast their votes in the bid. It was a closed door voting held in three rounds. Izmir and Sao Paolo were eliminated in the second round .The final round was crucial between Dubai and Russia but the former prevailed in the voting. To signify support for Dubai in its endeavor to win the 2020 World Expo hosting, the bid logo was posted on government buildings, police cars, shopping bags, taxis and receipts. A flag bearing the logo was also placed on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Estimated gross income
The estimated gross income from the world trade is placed at $23billion in a period of six years from 2015 to 2021. Dubai authorities said this figure is 24% of the city’s gross domestic product. The rough cost of the event is pegged at $8.4 million during the entire six months duration of the trade. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rahid, Dubai head and U.A.E. vice president said the city is going to be the best host that will put the world in awe. He said, “Dubai Expo 2020 will breathe new life into the ancient role of the Middle East as a melting pot for cultures and creativity.”
U.A.E. National Day
The announcement of Dubai’s bid victory came just a few days from the U.A.E. national day on December 2. The day marks the country’s unity that has now spanned 42 years. The holiday also commemorates U.A.E.’s autonomy from the British Protectorate. This is the first time for Middle East to host the World Expo. The hosting will help open the huge capability of the region in international trade and business.
World Expo 2020 carries the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.” The trade fair is not as popular as other world events such as the Olympics and World Cup but it still provides big opportunities for many people around the globe to forge future business relations. The last World Expo trade exhibit was held in 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea. Milan will organize the next scheduled event in 2015.
Photo Credit: Burj Khalifa, world’s tallest building
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